ICC has wherewithal to combat corruption, says ex-London police chief

London, Sep 11(ANI): Former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lord Stevens has backed the International Cricket Council (ICC) to stamp out corruption which has been plaguing the game of cricket.

Stevens, who has headed a number of corruption inquiries in his career, said: “There are processes and best-practice which allow them (ICC) to do that.”

“We shouldn’t rely on the News of the World to do business which is in the public interest. We in sport, including the police, have a duty to ensure sports are clean,” The BBC quoted Stevens, as saying.

British tabloid ‘News of the World’ has claimed that Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif were bribed by London-based agent Majeed Mazhar to bowl three ‘no-balls’ during the Lord’s Test against England last month.

He also believes that a coordinated global approach would halt the activities of illegal betting syndicates.

“Worldwide there is a need for legislation that encompasses these kinds of activities, something similar to what we do on the anti-terrorist side of things. Unless we do that, the sports we love are under threat,” Stevens said.

“Police organizations, including Interpol, should come along and have a kind of ‘blue sky’ thinking about how we can take sport forward. Talk is no good any longer, action is needed,” he added. (ANI)